The 24th Vietnam Poetry Day, themed “Before the Vast Sea,” will take place on the full moon of the first lunar month in 2026 in Quảng Ninh province.
The information was announced at a press conference held in Hanoi on February 25, 2026 by the Vietnam Writers’ Association. The event continues to affirm Vietnam Poetry Day’s position as a cultural activity with wide-reaching influence, attracting writers and poetry lovers nationwide. This year’s theme invites profound reflections on the role and dignity of poetry and literature amid the country’s major opportunities in a new era of development.
Poet Nguyễn Quang Thiều, Chairman of the Vietnam Writers’ Association, emphasized that Poetry Day is one of Vietnam’s distinctive festivals - a cultural celebration of the nation.
Speaking at the press conference, poet Nguyễn Quang Thiều, Chairman of the Vietnam Writers’ Association, emphasized that Vietnam Poetry Day has long become a cultural event of broad social significance - a space where poetry meets the public and where enduring spiritual values of the nation are transmitted across generations. He stressed that it is not merely a professional gathering for writers, but also an occasion for authors and readers to pause, reflect and share their emotional responses to life.
The year 2026 marks the 24th edition of the event, following the success of the 23rd Poetry Day held in Ninh Bình province. The selection of Quảng Ninh as host carries multiple meanings. The province is closely associated with seas and islands, with an open space facing the vast ocean - symbolizing the nation’s aspiration to move forward. Quảng Ninh also holds a special place in Vietnam’s poetic history. In 1988, it became the first locality to organize Poetry Day on a province-wide scale, commemorating the 520th anniversary of King Lê Thánh Tông inscribing a poem on the cliffs of Bài Thơ Mountain. Since then, Bài Thơ Mountain has stood as a symbol of the nation’s longstanding tradition of cherishing poetry and honoring the written word.
A key academic highlight of this year’s event is the seminar “The Dignity of Poetry.” At a time when social media is expanding rapidly and artificial intelligence is increasingly influencing creative life, the question posed is what poets must do to preserve their creative integrity and personal character, and to safeguard the authentic values of poetry.
Nguyễn Bình Phương, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Writers’ Association, said the seminar “The Dignity of Poetry” will offer multidimensional, high-quality and engaging perspectives on the topic. Photo: Lữ Mai.
Poet Nguyễn Bình Phương, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Writers’ Association and moderator of the seminar, stated at the press conference: “This seminar will help us form a relatively comprehensive picture of the current face, scale and stature of poetry. The quality of authors, the quality of works, the quality of content and artistry - the quality of all these elements will constitute the dignity of poetry. When we raise the issue of dignity, it means we must build, preserve, maintain and even protect it in the face of very major issues confronting society today. A society that is technologically advanced inevitably leads to the intervention of artificial intelligence. We will also discuss at the seminar whether we should accept the participation of artificial intelligence in poetry. As we know, composing and appreciating poetry is a process of perfecting and expanding the human being. The dignity of poetry also requires us to examine how information technology has affected poetry…”
According to him, the seminar will offer multidimensional, substantive and engaging perspectives on the topic.
The Nguyên Tiêu poetry night, themed “Before the Vast Sea,” will feature poems about the sea by poets from different generations. The public will have the opportunity to enjoy works by renowned poets such as Nguyễn Khoa Điềm, Hữu Thỉnh, Trần Nhuận Minh, Trần Đăng Khoa, Thuận Hữu, Nguyễn Thị Hồng Ngát, Nguyễn Việt Chiến, Đặng Huy Giang and Phạm Đương, alongside emerging voices including Trang Thanh, Lữ Mai and Nguyễn Thị Kim Nhung.
Poet Trần Đăng Khoa selected 50 outstanding lines of poetry for the 24th Vietnam Poetry Day. Photo: Lữ Mai.
Poet Hữu Việt, general director of the poetry night, shared that Poetry Day is a highly significant literary event where poets of multiple generations raise their voices on a major theme. He noted that many well-known songs about the sea were adapted from outstanding poems, allowing poetry to step off the page and enter public life in a new form as beloved musical works. A new feature of this year’s program is that audiences will hear poets speak about the circumstances surrounding the creation of their works and recite the original poems themselves before listening to musical adaptations performed by singers. This connection is expected to create a complete emotional journey, from words to music.
As part of the program, in addition to the traditional recitation of “Nguyên tiêu” by President Hồ Chí Minh, audiences will enjoy special artistic performances highlighting the land and people of Quảng Ninh by local artists. Melodies about the sea will resonate throughout the poetry night, continuing the flow of poetic tradition and inspiring pride and affection for this coastal province.
Another notable innovation this year is the organizers’ effort to bring poetry beyond conventional halls and stages directly to the public. Groups of poets will visit mining sites, universities, factories and military units across the province. In these spaces of labor and study, poetry will not only be read but also shared and discussed, serving as a bridge connecting writers and audiences. This initiative will continue in future editions of Vietnam Poetry Day as a long-term approach to broadening public engagement and spreading the values of poetry within the community.
Translated by MINH KIÊN
VNQD